Furness Railway Trust blog

Firstly, apologies this week to Ed and Anne for an error in last week’s blog in which a photo of Anne was described as Ed! Well it proved that people do read the blog as the mistake was reported more than once! But sorry both!!

We are however pleased to report that the working party at Bury last Monday was successful in removing most of the items from 5643’s smokebox in order for a full hydraulic test of the locomotive to take place on Friday. Keith also went across to Bury on Tuesday and Thursday to complete the job and apply the necessary blanks. Even better, the locomotive passed its test in front of the boiler surveyor and so a steam test has been scheduled for this coming Friday. This will require a further working party tomorrow, Tuesday, to reassemble the items in the smokebox. Unfortunately, the hostile environment of the smokebox had eaten away at the ejector exhaust pipe and so it came out in two pieces rather than one. Keith has since been busy at Preston cleaning up and annealing the pipework.

He has also made up a new pipe for the ejector.

The first layer of varnish has been applied to the woodwork in the west saloon of Great Eastern Railway royal saloon No. 5 and also one side of the interior doors. The two doors on the right have received the varnish and those on the left await their turn. The end result looks good and is due reward for the all the effort that has been made to strip off previous layers of varnish. Work has also been going on behind the scenes by Andy Allthorn to produce replacement light fittings and obtain new glass bowls which will hopefully be arriving at Preston shortly along with the new LED light bulbs which have been procured.

Furness Railway No. 20 has appeared back in the FRT shed having completed its scheduled duties this year. Work will now turn to preparing it for a 14 month examination by the boiler surveyor.

Finally, those of you who attend working parties at Preston will be aware of the football rivalry within the FRT shed between Preston North End and Blackpool fans. The 4-2 home win by Blackpool the previous Saturday prompted Ed to turn up in his dayglo tangerine football shirt, much to the dismay of PNE supporters Phil Burton and John Davis!

Ade and Alan made some good progress in removing the last of Caliban’s tubes from its boiler last Wednesday. Ade worked in the firebox to “encourage” each tube to move forward.

Ade then joined Alan in hauling the tube out through the front tube plate. Inevitably some tubes were more reluctant than others to move!

David Starkie made a welcome return to work last Wednesday after convalescence and is seen here on the right assisting Ed (left) and Phil Burton (middle) on repairs to the chaise longue in Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5. Varnishing of the exterior of the vehicle is now complete and all the brass work has been re-fitted. Phil Bell has repaired most of the interior mouldings and John Davis has been cleaning down woodwork in the west saloon ready for varnishing.

Finally, over at Bury, attempts to undertake a hydraulic test on 5643 in order to gain a short extension on its boiler ticket were thwarted by the regulator not holding at high pressure. Keith, John Dixon and Ade were due to go to Bury today to remove and blank off the regulator, a not inconsiderable task since it entails removing the superheater header and steam pipes. We hope that their efforts pay off.

Apologies for the lack of a blog last week. The main blog computer decided that it had become tired of life and has had to be replaced. Needless to say, it is never as simple as that, with hours being spent re-loading and organising the software! However, this has not affected the work at Preston which (fortunately) tends to be a little less sophisticated!

Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 has again been devouring considerable labour as efforts are made to bring this lengthy project to a conclusion, hopefully at some point this winter.

Most of the interior mouldings are now back in place and repaired by Phil. John and Ed meanwhile continue to clean up the woodwork, John on hands and knees in the former royal lavatory (a posture which somehow feels appropriate?!) and Ed in the kitchen. A short planning meeting took place last Wednesday with Alison to determine the future catering requirements and fitments required to bring the kitchen are up to modern standards. A preference for the remainder of the internal fabric decoration has also been determined – needless to say, it was the most expensive in the catalogue. Another round of measuring is required to ensure that we do not over order!

Outside, Tim has completed the final coat of varnish apart from a couple of panels which need some further attention. The windows on the south side and both ends have been cleaned externally and the brass door trims polished for the first time in many many years.

John Dixon has been fastidiously re-fitting the highly polished door knobs and handles, adjusting where necessary to ensure correct functioning of the door locks.

Sam has continued his work to re-install the lighting in the coach, seen here wiring up the light fittings.

Elsewhere, Keith has been applying some protective paint to the cladding on Wootton Hall, which has required some team working to remove and re-fit the pieces. Ade has been re-assembling the inside motion on Caliban.

Finally Live Steam had a successful gig at the Engine Inn at Cark a week last Friday and have been invited to perform there again at New Year’s Eve. Tim and Pete went on to perform the following day at the premises of the Ulverston Brewing Company for the exhibitors at the Barrow Model Railway Exhibition. Again, all seemed to go well and they already have a song request for next year!

Work has continued to progress well on the overhaul of Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5. Having received the moquette for the chaise longue, it is now time to choose the rest of the material that will adorn the inside of the saloons and corridor below the windows. The first of the fabric samples have been received and examined. Naturally, the current preferred choice seems to be the most expensive! Meanwhile, Tim has been applying the final coat of vanish to the exterior of the vehicle.

There will soon be a need to re-fit the exterior fittings so John Dixon and Fred set about cleaning and polishing the door knobs and handles on Friday.

Work has also continued on Wootton Hall where Keith has been removing some very stubborn brackets from the insides of the engine’s frames. John Dixon has also been continuing his Saturday job of repairing Caliban’s cab.

The weekend saw the operation of Ribble Steam Railway’s  very successful Steam Gala which featured five steam locomotives including Furness Railway No. 20 and visiting L&Y ‘Pug’ No. 19. The latter will depart Preston on Wednesday after its month-long stay at the RSR.

Finally, this next Friday evening Live Steam are appearing once again at the Engine Inn, Cark-in-Cartmel, starting at 8.30 pm. With Alan unavailable on Saturday, Tim and Pete will then perform as a duo for the exhibitors of the Barrow Model Railway Exhibition at the Ulverston Brewery Company on Saturday evening.

Apologies for the lack of a blog last week. Tim was under the weather and of course there was the distraction of the Queen’s funeral.

However, there has been plenty going on at Preston where the team working on Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 is finally beginning to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. John Dixon is seen here replacing one of the ceiling vents that he has been fettling and polishing.

The new moquette for the chaise longue has arrived after a delay and now will enable us to search for a suitable shade of matching material for the lower side panels in the saloon. Anne and Phil have been stripping down the chaise longue ready for new materials to be fitted.

Phil has been applying a first coat of varnish to the new veneer panels.

John Davis and Ed continue to clean up the remaining woodwork; it’s John’s turn for a photo this week.

Inevitably during this restoration we have discovered missing components that will be difficult to replace. However, we were visited on Wednesday, 14th, by 3D printing expert Andy Allthorn from Cark-in-Cartmel who kindly came down to demonstrate how this modern technology can used in re-creating such items and has already produced a new part for the light fittings.

Andy has also now set about re-creating handles for two of the internal sliding doors.

Dave Watkins has been able to supply a replacement cast brass oil box (no 3D printing here) for Wootton Hall’s tender which Keith has been working on.

Fred has been polishing one of the trunnions for a brake shaft for Wootton Hall.

Bob has been visiting regularly to work on Wootton Hall‘s regulator valve.

Alan and Sam have taken Caliban’s piston rods to Burscough for them to be metal spayed and ground in order to repair corrosion.

We are pleased to be able to report that the Annual General Meeting passed off successfully on the 13th September and we were able to welcome Paul Balshaw and Sam Middleton on board as Trustees – congratulations both! Thanks as ever go to Alison for preparing a super spread of sandwiches and cakes for the occasion.

Over at Embsay Andy Booth has completed the fitting of Cumbria’s new tubes and the boiler has been successfully hydraulically tested by Matt Anderson in the presence of our boiler surveyor, Andy Wright. Indian Red paint has been sent across to enable John Furness to smarten up the appearance of the saddle tank and the refractory concrete has arrived there in order for a new brick arch to be constructed. Hopefully it won’t be too long now before Cumbria is back in traffic.

Finally, this last weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the historic return to steam specials on the Furness Line which were operated by Carnforth 10A Black 5s 44871 and 44932 on Saturday, 23rd September 1972. British Rail had previously banned all steam trains after August 1968 (apart from those hauled by 4472 Flying Scotsman which had a contract) but the ban was finally lifted in 1972, a major win for the world of railway preservation. Those at West Coast hadn’t forgotten the significance of the date and so quietly turned out newly overhauled 44932 this last Saturday to haul the Cumbrian Coast Express railtour – very well done to them! Watch it at Grange and Arnside here.

This last Saturday saw the Furness Railway Trust shed open to the public as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme. We were delighted to welcome so many visitors and Tim admitted to having to keep up his tea uptake in order to avoid a dry throat during his many guided tours around the shed. The work on restoring GWR ‘Hall’ class 4-6-0 Wootton Hall and the overhaul of Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5  proved to be of particular interest and it is to be hoped that some of the visitors will become members to support this work. Outside the shed Ade was driving recently restored Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Pug’ 0-4-0ST No. 19 of 1910, courtesy of the L&Y Trust. At the other end of the trains was the FRT’s very own Furness Railway No. 20 with Alan and Sam Middleton on the footplate – not often you get locomotives with sequential numbers powering a train!

This video which was sent to us shows both Nos 19 and 20 in action – and also what was on show inside the shed, as well as a look round the RSR Museum and the operation of the swingbridge over Preston docks.

Another reminder now to members that this year’s AGM will take place tomorrow evening, Tuesday, 13th September, in the Furness Railway Trust shed at Preston at 7.30 pm. Alison is planning the post meeting refreshments so we hope that as many as possible of you will be able to attend.

Another short update this week.

More good progress has been made on the Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon this week with Phil Bell having now replaced most of the damaged veneer. Anne and Phil Burton have been attending to the chaise longue in the larger saloon. We are still awaiting delivery of the new moquette which is being chased up. Attention is also being turned to replacing some missing light fittings and door straps.

Looking ahead, the Furness Railway Trust shed will be opened up to the public this coming Saturday, 10th September. Assistance from members in engaging with visitors and showing them around would be very much appreciated. It is a golden opportunity to publicise the work of our volunteer workforce and to recruit new members.

Doing their best to publicise the FRT this last weekend were Tim and Alan, in a reduced Live Steam formation, who performed an impromptu half hour set of mainly railway songs at Fleetwood Folk Club’s second Folk Festival on Sunday afternoon.

Next Tuesday evening, 13th September, will see the Furness Railway Trust AGM taking place in the Furness Railway Trust shed at Preston at 7.30 pm. Please remember, if possible, to bring along the paperwork which was circulated to members with the recent edition of The Iron Horse. It is a chance for members to view the shed and it is hoped that as many as possible will be able to attend. Alison has promised us some refreshments which will need to be eaten!!

A short “After the Bank Holiday Monday” edition for you!

John Dixon has formally announced that work on re-covering the roof of Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 had been completed – apart from renewing the cabling to the internal lights which Sam is planning. Inside, work has continued on renewing veneered panels, painting ceilings and cleaning light fittings. More time is also now being spent on sorting out the former kitchen compartment where Ed is seen removing yet more varnish from the woodwork.

Another step forward was taken this week in the refurbishment of Wootton Hall’s tender tanks with the fitting of the reconstructed water take off sump. On Wednesday Ade operated the fork lift truck to lift it from the shed floor onto the tender tank.

We arrived on Friday to find that Keith and Matt had successfully used block and tackle to lift it into place, a perfect fit.

Andy Booth appeared on Friday to announce that Cumbria’s new tubes were now all fitted and that they would be beaded over when he returns from holiday.

Finally, we can reveal the latest loco to arrive at the Ribble Steam Railway. With no room available in the running shed it was shunted into the shop!

With Ade driving RSR’s mid-week train on Wednesday and Alan away on holiday, it has been a slightly quieter week. However, work has continued on Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 where the much anticipated replacement veneer arrived just after lunch on Friday. Phil didn’t waste any time in starting to cut and fit some of the new veneer as can be seen here.

Meanwhile the painting of the large saloon ceiling has been completed and work started on the corridor ceiling, where Phil had previously undertaken repairs after it had been damaged by water ingress.The next job in the saloon will be to re-fit the vents and light fittings which are currently receiving attention from John Dixon.

John Davis has been continuing the job of removing old varnish from the kitchen compartment cupboard doors.

The removal of the centre springs from Wootton Hall has given Fred the opportunity to clean up the spring hanger bolts, collars and washers.

Finally, over at Embsay good progress is being made with the fitting of new tubes to ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria.

Just a short update this week.

Work has continued on Great Eastern Royal Saloon No. 5, with Tim completing the painting of the corniche mouldings and John Dixon installing the last of the re-built vents on the roof. The moquette for the chaise longue in the large saloon has been ordered and, in anticipation of this, the saloon ceiling is in the course of being repainted, hopefully to be completed this week. John Davis has been working on some of the wooden beading.

The replacement veneer has also been ordered and John Davis and Phil are seen here planning its installation – or it could just be another “seats of the week” photo?!

Keith has again been busy working on Wootton Hall‘s tender, seen here with Ron Crowe attempting to remove a stubborn nut from one of the spring hanger bolts.

Keith has also been across to Bury where he assisted with the fitting of two replacement springs on 5643, borrowed from GWR 2-8-0 3855 courtesy of Andy Booth – thanks Andy. It is hoped that 5643’s own springs will be returned from repair very shortly, delayed by a difficulty in procuring the correct specification of spring steel.

Finally, over at Embsay, the boiler surveyor has inspected the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria and given the OK for the replacement tubes to be fitted, which should commence tomorrow.